1905 El Mercurio newspaper of Santiago

Testimonials
Born and Raised in Sewell

The industrial operation of the world largest underground copper mine began in 1905. This required hiring large numbers of physically strong and unskilled peasants, who were offered in return a salary attractive enough to encourage them to go up the mountain.

They formed a relatively small and isolated human group, whose number slowly increased until it became a settlement of hundreds of inhabitants.

For those rustic men, the mine where they worked and the place where they lived became their adopted society.

High up on the hills, the group of men, women and youngsters who for decades devoted themselves to the noble task of mining took deep roots that still remain today.